Are you new to cross-country skiing or looking to upgrade your equipment, and need some help choosing? Discover our advice on choosing the right pair of classic cross-country or cross-country skate ski boots.
As the point of contact between your body and your skis, your cross-country ski boots are a an absolute must when you go cross-country skiing (and do winter sports in general). There are many factors to consider when making your choice, such as whether you’re doing alternative cross-country skiing or skate skiing, your level and comfort points. Let’s take a look at the details you need to know when choosing your cross-country ski boots!
As you probably know, there are two types of cross-country skiing: original cross-country skiing, known as ‘classic’ or ‘alternative’, and ‘skating’, which developed in the 1980s. Two types of skiing mean two different types of equipment!
Classic Cross-Country Skiing
Although the technique of cross-country skiing is fairly easy to learn thanks to its movement, which is similar to gliding, mastering it perfectly requires a great deal of rigour and perseverance! Classic cross-country ski boots have a sole that’s supple enough to allow the movement to flow smoothly. To get into cross-country skiing, it’s best to start with the classic discipline to familiarise yourself with the sensations before trying skating.
Skate ski touring
Skating is a modern discipline, more physically and technically demanding, and is practised using a technique that resembles "ice skating". It has increasingly popular thanks to high-profile events such as international biathlon competitions. The boots have a rigid upper cuff to ensure good ankle support.
Having the right boots for your discipline is obviously key. The same applies to all your equipment: cross-country skate skis are shorter than alternative skis for better manoeuvrability, cross-country ski poles are generally larger than those used in other winter sports, etc. And if you need a quick overview of all the equipment, you can find all our advice here!
As in all sports, to progress and enjoy yourself, you need equipment that is suited to your abilities.
Classic skiing
For beginners, choose comfortable boots with good thermal insulation. They may be a little heavier and less efficient, but they’re a great way to get started and have fun on the slopes. If you’re more advanced, you can switch to more precise boots, and when you become an expert, the boots will be even more precise and offer better heel support thanks to a specific construction (in carbon, for example).
skate skiing
Since skate skiing is more demanding, skating boots start at the "advanced" level. Here too, the more you progress, the more precise your boot will be, but the upper cuff (which holds your ankle) and the sole will also be increasingly rigid. Carbon is also replacing plastic in boots designed for expert skiers. The further you progress in your sport, the more your boots will improve your speed and precision. This will mean you don’t have to put in as much effort and help you to save energy.
Today, all new boots are compatible with new skis, regardless of the brand. This was not the case in the past, when there were different binding standards, so you had to check compatibility.
If you’re investing in a new pair of skis, you don’t need to worry about compatibility, but pay attention to the brand and compatibility if you’re choosing a second-hand pair of skis or boots. In this case, you can use this table to check that the binding standards are compatible with your boots.
Now that you’ve got the basics down, pay attention to the criteria that will affect your comfort. This includes lacing, for example. At Decathlon, our cross-country ski boots all have a classic lacing system, which gives you more precise support for different parts of your foot, and is more durable than quick lacing systems, which can break more easily.
You can then pay attention to certain technical details of the cross-country ski boots. This includes whether or not there’s a gaiter to prevent snow getting in, the weight (the further you progress, the lighter you’ll want to be), the materials and their quality, etc.
As far as size is concerned, the first piece of advice is simple: try before you buy. If you're buying online, you might consider going up a size so that you can wear thick socks underneath. But that is not a good idea! Choose socks that are close-fitting and breathable (and not necessarily the thickest). When you try them on, your toes should not touch the tip of the boots. You need to leave a little space so that air can circulate, which acts as a real insulator against the cold.
Final word of advice? Don’t be tempted by boots that are designed to perform better than you can. Even if they’re lighter and closer to your feet, as we explained above, they will be less comfortable and less warm. When you’re trying a new sport for the first time, it’s important to feel comfortable and at ease with your equipment.
You appear to have all the information you need to choose your cross-country ski boots! Of course, you still have to choose which design you like, but when it comes to taste and colour, we’ll leave you in charge. Now it’s over to you! Enjoy yourself whether you’re doing alternative or skate skiing!
